Anyone start there nursing career in the OR

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Just curious if any CRNA's in here started there nursing career in the OR before getting ICU experience and going on to CRNA school?

But I know what forum I am in, so I will refrain from being insulted.

We are adults here, at least most of us. So let's debate without name calling or sarcasm.

Tell me how OR nurses manage patient care from a hands-on approach like what is done in the ER or ICU. Because I have never seen it. I will give you that private practice settings often have the RNs helping anesthesia induce, but at all teaching hospitals I have ever been to, you might as well forget any assistance.

An ICU nurse spends 12+ hours at a patient's bedside, titrating drips to achieve desired outcomes (hemodynamic variables, sedation), changing vent settings (if RT does not do this), yes dumping pee, etc. While not an OR expert, I have seen enough to know that this is in no way the scope of practice that circulating OR nurses do. Please enlighten me as to how the job you do as a circulating RN is the hands-on equivalent as the ICU RN managing two intubated, ventilated, sedated patients that look to you as the sole bedside provider.

I am not saying your job is not important, because it is. You guys are the safeguard for the patient to make sure of alot of things, that the paperwork is in order to keep us all from getting accused of assault / battery / false imprisonment, that the right operative site is being cut or amputated. And you keep everyone in line. But it is not hands-on manipulation of vasoactive gtts, Swan numbers, CVP, UOP, various waveforms and I think we all know that. And that is what anesthesia schools want; therefore, every school that I have seen does not consider OR circulating as acute or unit time.

Managing patients is not the circulating OR nurses job. Anesthesia does that. Is there something I'm missing here?

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Specializes in I know stuff ;).

Hey RN

I do think your right. I have a friend in the OR and when she asks me for stories about patients im flying she thinks its crazy. Never had to take care of an invasive lines or IABP/VADs etc. While im no expert about OR RNs she told me 90% of her job was standing on her feet (holy crap that would suck) handing and counting.

Really, sounds like a physicially demanding job, but not one where critical thinking is the standard day as it would be in ICU, ER, Flight even PACU.

Ok now im a bad guy again. Dammit. Gotta stick up for yer broz.

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Specializes in SRNA class of 2010.

I just started the application process. Despite the fact that I feel the OR would give some good exposure to procedures, most of the admission requirements I have read about list OR as not being critical care experience...

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Specializes in ICU, Surgery.
.

Tell me how OR nurses manage patient care from a hands-on approach like what is done in the ER or ICU.

Please enlighten me as to how the job you do as a circulating RN is the hands-on equivalent as the ICU RN managing two intubated, ventilated, sedated patients that look to you as the sole bedside provider.

Managing patients is not the circulating OR nurses job. Anesthesia does that. Is there something I'm missing here?

Nope, you've missed nothing. I wasn't trying to start a debate. I was actually attempting some humor! No way is my job equivalent to an ICU RN, as I've done both, (was long ago). Apples and Oranges there. Very different scope of practice for sure. I have the greatest respect for the CRNA's and SRNA's I work with and enjoy learning from them. I also enjoy helping them adjust to being in the OR suite around all of our idiosyncrasies! Good Luck in school.

LOL

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I know I can't argue... there's a reason I can't stand working in the OR (circ/scrub) 5 days a week! There's a lot of nursing aspects out there I miss. I think I'm an asset in the OR because I do pay attention to labs and have a good feel for co-morbidities but I could be oblivious to all that and still do my job. Occasionally I hang and start or push antibiotics or pre-op meds... only because I still do enough floor nursing to be familiar with that. I'm comfortable with many resp issues and many CRNAs are comfortable with that... because I still handle vents regularly in my "other job" And I do try to take advantage of learning moments regarding monitoring and drips because my next non OR goal is ICU. But most of this has nothing to do with being a competent OR nurse. I realize you're not knocking OR nurses but our job requirements are completely different and should not count towards "critical care nursng" Whole different world! No offense taken. I just think if someone want to try it out before getting their ICU experience, it's not a bad idea. I personally think a nursing career can be long and there's plenty of time to really try out some differnt areas before committing to a major, career altering move like CRNA. And how many nurses ever really see a CRNA in action before they start deciding that's the career for them? In that 3 day OR rotation in school? (and in no way am I saying any type of OR nursing should be required) I guess the answer is the same as someone who asks if anyone started their career in OB or peds or someother specialty where they will bring a unique perspective to clinicals and practice.

(poor Joey... did he get lost in the shuffle?)

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Apples and Oranges there. Very different scope of practice for sure.

That was my point, that the two jobs have different goals and scopes of practice. I ain't hatin' on you guys!

I also enjoy helping them adjust to being in the OR suite around all of our idiosyncrasies!

hehe. I think our OR RNs inducted me by the school of hard knocks. Glad to see that someone is actually trying to make a difference rather than just simply screaming. No seriously, I try and help out the OR RN that is in the room with me as much as I can, from adjusting the bovie if it is near me, tying up surgeons, residents, RNFA, scrub techs, to getting sterile supplies that are right behind me. I've actually been a leg holder a couple of times!

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Specializes in ICU, Surgery.

I try and help out the OR RN that is in the room with me as much as I can, from adjusting the bovie if it is near me, tying up surgeons, residents, RNFA, scrub techs, to getting sterile supplies that are right behind me. I've actually been a leg holder a couple of times!

I bet you are well liked and respected there also! I have found that most all SRNA's and CRNA's are more then willing to help us out, when possible , especially when we are treating each other as co-workers. I apologize for thread jacking! I believe the OP has gotten his/her answer though.

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Hello:

I am an OR nurse (14 years). I started as a Scrub Tech. Now I work in SICU (1 year plus). I applied to a couple of schools last Fall and in the interviews, only 1 school seemed impressed with my OR experience. I played up my OR experience in my essay but I am not sure if that was a good idea. So--I am in your same boat. I think OR experience should be a plus but I am not sure if anyone else does.

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Joey,

I went to the OR right after graduating with my BSN. I wanted to see what CRNAs/MDAs did firsthand, see what the OR was like, etc., before I made any decision about pursuing CRNA school.

I did not stay in the OR very long--just long enough to have a positive feeling about the OR atmosphere and anesthesia work in general. I am now in the CCU of the same hospital, where I plan on staying for about a year, and will then move to CTICU or SICU for 6 months or so before applying to CRNA school.

The only downside to going to the OR first, I think, is that you may have a difficult time transitioning to a unit if you stay too long. I was only in the OR a few months before asking to transfer -- short enough that the OR hadn't invested a huge amount of time/expense in me, and long enough to see what I wanted to see.

Good luck!

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I have some advice for a couple of you in this thread. I was a surgical technician in the OR and then went back to nursing school. I went to work on med-surg for too long before I decided to go to CRNA school. I only had 2 years ICU experience (& our ICU is smaller). Here are my thoughts. The OR experience was priceless for me because I was much more comfortable than some of my classmates were with positioning, how to know your way around the OR, knowing what is involved in the procedure being done, etc. It was somewhat of a stress reliever. However, it was hard to ignore that part that you do know and focus on what I needed to do now. That didn't last too long however. As for getting ICU experience in 2 years, I guess it depends on how big your ICU is. In our ICU we are getting away from lines and the only ones who really have them are septic patients and Immediate post op CABGs. The CABG usually loses the line the next day and go home in 4-5 days. So, for me, it is still a struggle to remember normal hemodynamics that well. I am into school 6 months now and have not used that information yet in school so it will be very necessary to review it big time before starting hearts & such. I say get as much experience as you can in the ICU and maybe you can do some per diem in the OR to get your feet wet??? Good luck.

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